Hawaii Biodiesel Project Begins Scaled-up Demonstration

Pacific Biodiesel Technologies has started its scaled-up farming demonstration to grow biofuel crops including sunflowers in Maui's central valley.

The initial crop project on 115 acres will expand diversified agriculture by growing combine-harvested oil crops. This is the largest biofuel crop project in the state of Hawaii and the only biofuel farming operation in the state running on 100% renewable fuel.

The company aims to design a sustainable, zero-waste and economically viable system to grow food, animal feed and fuel. Short-term crops that are harvested in 100 days or less can be planted, harvested, crushed, and converted to biodiesel. All of which will be done in Hawaii.

Pacific Biodiesel is planting sunflowers as its first biofuel crop on Maui, applying the knowledge learned from its past experience and partnership with the US military as part of the Hawaii Military Biofuels Crop Program.